BEVERLY
HILLS—On Monday, December 17, Beverly Hills Police Chief David Snowden and
School Superintendent Gary Woods met to review currently placed security
procedures and discussed ways to enhance them after the Connecticut shootings
on December 14.

The city
of Beverly Hills and BHUSD ( Beverly Hills Unified School District) have made
an in-depth plan of action for the event of a school lockdown or shooting for
all five public schools. In a recent press release, Woods stated, “While we are
confident that our current plans and emergency procedures are solid, every
school in the district will be reviewing their plans in light of the Newtown
tragedy. This includes fine-tuning our logistical protocols, bolstering our
communication and training, and interfacing more closely with our local Police
Department. I think it’s an excellent time to reinforce the district’s
emergency plans and involve every stakeholder, including students, teachers,
support staff and parents.”

BHUSD is
also working with other Beverly Hills private schools to ensure the safety of
all students and faculty in all Beverly Hills schools, in light of last
Friday’s massacre. After the Sandy Hook school shootings, the city and police
department have stepped up patrols of schools and have performed routine daily
site visits, along with planned emergency drills to better prepare for any
future threats.

Beverly Hills Police

In
a recent press release sent out by the Santa Monica Police Department, the need
for student evaluations was noted, in order to predict possible safety threats.
There will also be increased training of new staff and substitute teachers to
correctly and competently handle such circumstances as those in Connecticut.

On a
recently uploaded video on the BHUSD website, Police Chief Snowden stated, “The
tragic events Friday gives all parents certainly pause to be concerned about
what’s going on with their families. We're here to tell you that they are
safe.” Woods stated, “We practice our plan and procedure on a monthly basis. We
are prepared for any crisis.”

The
school boards website also has a letter from superintendent Woods who describes
his reaction to the Connecticut shootings as a school board member and parent
himself. The letter states that BHSD maintains safety through great
relationships with the police department and city officials, regular practice
of drills, and an efficient communication system to connect with parents
through phone and e-mail.

As a
parent of four, he recommends talking to your children, limiting exposure to
the media/news, maintaining a sense of normalcy, be aware of signs of anxiety,
and continue monitoring and listening.